Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring

Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring brings to life the incredible true story of Mary Bowser, an African American woman who bravely spied for the Union during the Civil War. Posing as an illiterate servant, Mary used her photographic memory to gather critical intelligence from the highest levels of the Confederacy. This chapter book offers a suspenseful narrative combined with interactive 'spycraft materials' that allow readers to discover clues, solve puzzles, and ultimately uncover the secret location of Mary's diary. It's an engaging way to introduce children to a significant historical figure and the complexities of the Civil War.

Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring introduces an exciting interactive series for middle grade readers--Spy on History, where the reader gets to experience history in a whole new way, now in paperback. Meet Mary Bowser, an African American spy who was able to infiltrate the Confederate leadership at the highest level. Enigma Alberti dramatizes Mary Bowser's suspenseful story--how she pretended to be illiterate, how she masterfully evaded detection, how she used her photographic memory to "copy" critical documents. Using spycraft materials included in a sealed envelope inside the book, a canny reader will be able to discover and unravel clues embedded in the text and illustrations, and solve the book's ultimate mystery: Where did Mary hide her secret diary?